Rochester police must reinforce goodwill

Issue public review of pepper spray incident

A video of a Rochester policeman blasting a noxious mist of pepper spray into the face of retreating city teens doesn't tell the whole tale of what was a frenzied engagement near a major bus stop on Main Street downtown. But this disturbing image shouldn't sit well with the mayor or police chief.

Whether such use of force followed the letter of the law, this incident begs a thorough and open review by the Rochester Police Department and the administration of Mayor Thomas Richards.

The city must delicately diffuse animosity fostered by the chaotic Oct. 26 event, which came as officers tried to disperse a swarm of city students who had gathered to watch a fight. If not, it may work to erode bridges the RPD has tried to build with the public of late - which include seeking a consultant to put officers through community-relations training - and reinforce harmful divisions.

Recall that at the heart of the city's economic revitalization thrust is re-making Main Street. And on attracting private commercial investment to this pivotal urban strip, Rochester mayors have sung a common refrain: "We need to get the buses off Main Street." An RGRTA transit center now under construction will do just that, and relocate waiting bus riders to an enclosed facility on Mortimer Street.

During its planning stages, some critics said the station was a move to put not only idling buses but also "bus people" out of sight, to make way for downtown gentrification. As Main Street rises, and new policies trim the number of bus-riding students congregating downtown, the city must be careful to send the message that all law-abiding Rochesterians are welcome in the heart of town. Ensuring fair and respectful treatment by the growing police presence is critical to the resurgence of a vibrant city center.

To reinforce the RPD mantra of "policing in the spirit of service," the city must prove that the pepper-spraying of seemingly nonthreatening adolescents was justified. Or else, someone should be punished.